Spudman? Perhaps you mean "Studman."

After months of training, race day finally came for Bruce. He entered an Olympic-length triathlon in Burley, ID, called "The Spudman." The race involves a 1 mile swim down the Snake River, a 25 mile bike ride, and a 6 mile run.

So, it was pretty easy.

Official "Before" photo.

(Barry, Casey, Bruce, and Dave)

Bruce was in the first wave which started about 7:20 a.m.

He is somewhere among all those bobbing orange heads in the water.

Dave, Tammy, and Casey started 40 minutes later.

Yes, girls can be Spudmen too.

This particular girl is 16 weeks pregnant, so I think she wins the prize.

Bruce coming in to the bike/run transition area.

(No, he doesn't ride his bike with his legs straight down. He was merely preparing for dismount. Speed matters, people.)

At the finish line.

When Bruce entered the race, I promised him that if he finished, I would be waiting at the finish line with the homemade pie of his choice.

He chose coconut cream and I kept my word.

Bruce and Dave have had a leetle rivalry.

The thing about a race is that there are so many variables that impact the outcome.

Just because your brother-in-law beats you one day, it doesn't mean he's going to beat you another day.

At least that's what Shelton was telling himself when Liza rocked him to sleep Saturday night.

But the big winner was Barry: he beat everyone by a good 15 minutes, and he only swims once a year. Also, he's the oldest. Like a grandpa old.

A post-race dinner was held at Butterburr's.

There were heavy rains, but either God smiles on racers or on chicken fried steak, because we came out to a DOUBLE rainbow.